Channels

Services

Scripted editor developers enhance customisability

Scripted's console at work
Source: Scripted
Scripted, VMware and SpringSpource's browser-based editor for JavaScript, has been updated to version 0.3.0. The editor, which is based on elements of the Eclipse Orion project, was introduced in October last year and is intended as a lightweight option for JavaScript programming without giving up some of the advantages of using IDEs.

To simplify installation, Scripted can now be installed with the npm (Node Package Manager) command; users will of course have to install Node.js first. The node server now remains running in the background and a "scr" command will make it visible, or relaunch it if it is not currently running. The editor relies heavily on keyboard shortcuts and, to satisfy more users, has moved to allow any key binding to be reconfigured.

The latest version of the editor builds on its previous basic understanding of JavaScript and is now more familiar with AMD and CommonJS code, allowing it to find module references and handle require configuration calls. An improved inferencing engine now works out valid properties and array elements from usage and handles global dependencies better. The better understanding of code also improves navigation by allowing Command/Control clicking on an identifier to view the declaration of that identifier. The editor is also now capable of running shell commands and displaying the results in an editor panel. Navigation history has been improved with better preservation of state in the browser.

JSLint was previously used for code validation in Scripted, but due to "popular demand" the developers have switched to using JSHint. In their plans for future versions, the developers aim to make the linter, and other metric computation tools, pluggable. They are also looking at making better use of the side panel, supporting editor theming (when they move to a more recent version of Orion's editor), and hope to integrate a debugger.